Variety of begonia plant named &#39;nzctwo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘NZCTWO’ characterized by a medium bushy growth habit with burgundy and browned green foliage and a reddish pink flower.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia hybrid, and further known by thevarietal name ‘Nzctwo’. The new variety may also be referred tocommercially in the future as ‘Bellfire.’ The new variety was derivedfrom a population of seeds collected from other begonias grown inPalmerston North, New Zealand. The seed parent was identified as aBegonia micranthera and Begonia boliviensis hybrid plant that had beenback-crossed to Begonia boliviensis, where the pollen parent is aBegonia boliviensis clone. Following selection of the seedling, thecultivar was developed by cross pollination in April 2002, whichpreceded selection in February 2004. The selected cultivar should onlybe propagated by asexual means, i.e. by cuttings. The new plants weregrown in a bark and pumice medium in six inch plastic bags. Continuedobservation of future generations have confirmed that the distinguishingfeatures of this new cultivar remain stable and are retained throughsuccessive propagation. The measurements and observations of the plantswere taken outdoors from plants grown in soil under sunny conditions onJan. 12, 2007.

The comparator ‘NZCONE’ has a reddish orange flower color and forestgreen upper side with light green lower side leaf color. This variety‘NZCTWO’ has reddish pink flower color and browned green upper side withburgundy lower side leaf color.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘NZCTWO’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype of the newcultivar may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature, light intensity, length of day, irrigation amount andfrequency, and/or fertilizer rate without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe among the unique characteristics of ‘NZCTWO’. These characteristicsdistinguish ‘NZCTWO’ as a new and distinct cultivar from its closestcomparator Begonia boliviensis ‘NZCONE’:

1. Reddish pink flowers; and

2. Leaves with browned green colored upper sides and burgundy coloredlower sides.

Compared to other plants of the Begonia genus, the new Begonia hasdistinctive flowers of reddish pink color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is depicted in the accompanying colored photograph inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a potted plant illustrating the characteristic foliage andflowers.

The photograph depicts the overall appearance of the new Begonia,showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain incolored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differslightly from the color values cited in the Detailed BotanicalDescription which more accurately describe the actual colors of the newBegonia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newcultivar. The data which defines each characteristic was collected fromreproductions of the plant. The plant histories of Begonia ‘NZCTWO’ weretaken outdoors in soil under sunny conditions on Jan. 12, 2007.

In the following table of plant characteristics, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society of London Colour Chart, 1995Edition. The age of the plant described is approximately one year oldwith measurements taken from mature leaves.

THE PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Begonia hybrid.        -   Varietal name.—‘NZCTWO’.        -   Parentage.—cross pollination of Begonia boliviensis and            Begonia micranthera.        -   Asexual propagation.—cross pollination cutting.-   Form:    -   -   Plant growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Plant density.—Bushy.        -   Growth type.—Shrub.        -   Mean plant height.—0.8 meters.        -   Mean plant width.—0.8 meters.        -   Stem.—        -   Mean stem diameter.—10.18 mm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Leaf Color.—upside: browned green (slightly darker than RHS            147A 1995)(PMS 448c) with lighter green veins; lowerside:            burgundy (RHS 187B, 1995)(PMS 490c).        -   Mean leaf width (mm).—36.06 mm.        -   Mean leaf length (mm).—72.18 mm (excluding petiole).        -   Leaf characteristics.—Apex — Deeply serrated Margin —            Undulated Texture — Coarse, textured Shape — Lancolate Base            — Closed.        -   Flower characterics.—Pedicel Prickles: none Bud shape —            Flattened ovate Flower size — 18-25 mm (as viewed from            above) Flower profile upper — flat Flower profile lower —            convex Inflorescence — single male at apex, duel female            laterals Sepal — Two below female inflorescence Number of            petals — Four Petal Size — small to medium Petal Width —            mean: 11.5 mm Petal Length — mean: 29 mm Petal Arrangement —            overlapping Pedicel Length — mean: 26.75 Pedicel Color —            burgundy (RHS 185A, 1995) Number of Flowers — many Color            midzone outside — 39B (RHS ed. 1995) (178c PMS) Color            midzone inside — 39B (RHS ed. 1995) Color Margin inside —            Reddish pink Color Basal spot — None Filament color — yellow            Anther — yellow Style color — light yellow.        -   Seed vessel characteristics.—        -   Size.—10-12 mm.        -   Color.—brownish green.        -   Type of asexual propagation to establish stability.—cutting.        -   Growth rate.—Flowers in first seasons growth, dormant in            winter.        -   Flower buds.—reddish pink, flattened ovate; male flower            length longer than width; petals elongate on opening, petals            open together, inner petals reflex first before opening into            a bell shaped flower prior to abscission.        -   Reproductive.—monoecious, larger male flower at apex of            flowering bract, duel female flowers as laterals with a            winged seed capsule: stamens, column shaped color yellow,            approximately 30; pollen color: yellow, pistals color:            yellow, style color: light yellow, style shape: twisted;            ovaries contain six seed pods.        -   Duration.—continuous tuberous begonia.        -   Disease resistance.—very good disease resistance.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

‘NZCTWO’ is distinguished from other cultivars of Begonia genus by itsfoliage of browned green on the upper side and burgundy on the lowerside, and its inflorescence including reddish pink flowers. ‘NZCTWO’ isan upright bushy shrub with lancolate leaves having a serrated edge andclosed base.

1. A new and distinct Begonia hybrid plant named ‘NZCTWO’ substantially as illustrated and described. 